sbu22
Guru
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2011
- Messages
- 1,253
- Location
- US
- Vessel Name
- Panache
- Vessel Make
- Viking 43 Double Cabin '76
68 years ago, the Allies landed at Normandy. I was rather surprised to see zero mention of it in the big internet news sites or in the papers. D-Day was not just the action itself, but what it represented to the world and the US. Worth a moment of reflection.
If you're looking for a different and little known aspect of D-Day, google "coast guard matchbox fleet" - wooden 83' gas (2,000 gallons of 100 octane) boats assigned waterborne rescue duty for the invasion. They also served in sub chaser and plane guard duty in other theaters. Iron men and wooden ships.
Wheeler Yachts (then Wheeler Shipyard) built the 83 footers. Same company that built Hemingway's Pilar. Wheeler is still around (new name to me, probably familiar to the old salts here) and building an updated Pilar. History - Wheeler Yacht Company
I'm going to smuggle a cold brew to my 91 year old neighbor this afternoon who says he got to Normandy "late" - they already had the Mulberry's installed when he showed up. All he did (his words) was the Hurtgen Forest and Rhine campaigns as a 17 year old after faking his way into the Army at 16.
If you're looking for a different and little known aspect of D-Day, google "coast guard matchbox fleet" - wooden 83' gas (2,000 gallons of 100 octane) boats assigned waterborne rescue duty for the invasion. They also served in sub chaser and plane guard duty in other theaters. Iron men and wooden ships.
Wheeler Yachts (then Wheeler Shipyard) built the 83 footers. Same company that built Hemingway's Pilar. Wheeler is still around (new name to me, probably familiar to the old salts here) and building an updated Pilar. History - Wheeler Yacht Company
I'm going to smuggle a cold brew to my 91 year old neighbor this afternoon who says he got to Normandy "late" - they already had the Mulberry's installed when he showed up. All he did (his words) was the Hurtgen Forest and Rhine campaigns as a 17 year old after faking his way into the Army at 16.